#look an actual post that required brainpower ma

[veliseraptor]

Hello ! I've read a lot of the posts you shared or wrote about horror, especially in reaction to "pearl-clutching" discourse against the whole genre.

It was very though provoking (thanks!) but I was wondering if/how you draw the distinction between that and, well, honest and "legitimate" bad review / negative analysis of some individual stories who happen to be horror ?

Oh, for sure. Of course there's legitimate criticisms to be made about individual horror works, or even about horror as a genre on the whole. I'm never going to claim that there isn't. While I do feel like there's a place for the "let people have fun" school of thought around media criticism, I don't think it should be a blanket smothering of all criticism - mostly, as with so many things, it is worth considering your time, place, and audience. For your own sake as well, I find.

I do think that sometimes the language of "criticizing" or "being critical" has become a handy mask for people to say whatever they want in some of the same (though less pernicious) way that people use "I'm just asking questions" to shut down discussion of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Again, #notallcriticism, much of it is good and beneficial and keeps things fresh (and me thinking), even the criticism I ultimately might end up disagreeing with. And at the same time, I do see the tendency popping up sometimes to use the idea of "legitimate criticism" as a way to shield a person from disagreement (the somewhat infamous "think critically about x" translating to "and you'll agree with me" comes to mind.)

As far as the how, well, it's certainly a little your mileage may vary - what I might read as an unfair review of a book I liked, for instance, someone else might read as a well-deserved ripping to shreds of a mediocre work, and it's certainly possible for neither of us to be "right" about which it is. Some of this - maybe even a lot of it - is a matter of perspective.

I guess I would think of two things that shape my perception of how someone is talking about a work or a genre, in general and in particular with horror:

1. Is the writer familiar with the genre? Do they have at least a passing familiarity with the conventions, tropes, and other narrative tics that tend to crop up? If not, are the criticisms they are making marked by that lack of knowledge (ime some of the discourse about the A Song of Ice and Fire falls victim to this, sometimes). I'm not saying that criticism is invalid coming from someone without genre knowledge, but I am saying that I'm more inclined to be skeptical of criticism that comes from someone who clearly dislikes the specific genre they're discussing, because it sometimes feels like a willful lack of curiosity and unwillingness to engage with a text/genre on its own terms.

> Addendum to this: is the writer familiar with the genre as it stands recently? Horror now looks rather different than horror fifty years ago, just for instance.

2. Is the argument or point they're making actually coherent? Is the analysis solid and grounded in at least some kind of evidence or source? (Is the author using screenshots of tweets in lieu of actually writing about the phenomenon they're discussing?) I can't always but I'd say I can usually at least recognize, even if I disagree, when someone is actually taking what they're engaging with seriously and when they're not (in terms of the work put in to convince me what they're saying is true, relevant, and important), and if they're not taking it seriously then why should I?

And one more, I guess, which feels obvious but sometimes on the internet isn't, because people love to have opinions (I get it! so do I!):

3. Has the writer actually read (or watched/played/whatever) what they're talking about? This ties in a little with point one but is slightly divergent, because someone can to an extent be familiar with a genre without having read it. But someone talking authoritatively about the problems with something they haven't actually had direct contact with, based purely on a set of cultural osmosis and related assumptions, is frustratingly common, and people will assume that they know what they're talking about from that alone and are qualified to make a sweeping judgment from that position. And I'm just not going to take criticism made from that perspective very seriously.

That's how I'd draw my lines, anyway. I don't claim to be an authority, certainly; I'm a gal on the internet with a big mouth and a lot of opinions. I think the important things here though are a. I certainly don't think that there's no such thing as legitimate criticism (in the negative sense) of horror works or horror as a genre, and b. I have particular standards for how I judge that criticism based on content and context.

I guess it's also worth noting, with this particular example, that the other question is "how much does this feel like it aligns with the present moral panic around dark or disturbing content in fiction?" and if the answer is "a lot" then I'm significantly more likely to dismiss it.

[melvinfellerstuff]

Melvin Feller MA Discusses Advantages to Reading More Books

Melvin Feller MA Discusses Advantages to Reading More Books

According to Melvin Feller an Associated Press poll revealing that 1 in 4 adults read no books last year. Yes, that is 25% of the adults out there are reading zero books. This is sad.  Melvin Feller knew intuitively that the number of books read each year had gone down to zero.

 Melvin Feller then asked about the adults who are reading more than zero books a year. How many are they reading in all? One? Five? Actually, the same poll reveals the average adult reads only four books per year. Half of those people read less than four.

 If you are one of the non-book readers who feels you “don’t need no stinking books”, here are Melvin Fellers great reasons to start the habit.

 Reading is an active mental process – Unlike TV, books make you to use your brain. By reading, you think more and become smarter.

 It is a fundamental skill builder - Every good course on the planet has a matching book to go with it. Why? Because books help clarify difficult subjects. Books provide information that goes deeper than just classroom discussion.

 Improves your vocabulary – Remember in elementary school when you learned how to infer the meaning of one word by reading the context of the other words in the sentence? You get the same benefit from book reading. While reading books, especially challenging ones, you will find yourself exposed to many new words you would not be otherwise.

 Gives you a glimpse into other cultures and places – What is your favorite vacation spot? I would bet you read a lot about that destination. The more information the better. Books can expand your horizons by letting you see what other cities and countries have to offer before you visit them.

 Improves concentration and focus – As I pointed out before, reading books takes brainpower. It requires you to focus on what you are reading for long periods. Unlike magazines, Internet posts or e-Mails that might contain small chunks of information. Books tell the whole story. Since you must concentrate in order to read, like a muscle, you will get better at concentration.

Builds self-esteem – By reading more books, you become well informed and more of an expert on the topics you read about. This expertise translates into higher self-esteem. Since you are so well read, people look to you for answers. Your feelings about yourself can only get better.

 Improves memory – Many studies show if you do not use your memory, you lose it. Crossword puzzles are an example of a word game that staves off Alzheimer’s. Reading, although not a game, helps you stretch your memory muscles in a similar way. Reading requires remembering details, facts and figures, and in literature, plot lines, themes and characters.

 Improves your discipline – Obviously, if 1 in 4 people do not read one book per year, then there is a discipline issue. There are many causes for people not reading books, such as the “quips” of information you can get on the Internet. TV is also a major distracter. Making time to read is something we all know we should do, but who schedules book-reading time every day? Very few… That is why adding book reading to your daily schedule and sticking to it, improves discipline.

 Learn anywhere – Books are portable. You can take them almost anywhere. As such, you can learn almost anywhere too.

 Improves creativity – by reading more books and exposing yourself to new and more complete information, you will also be able to come up with more creative ideas. As a personal example, I read many, many books on real estate and every business subject. So often, when my clients are stumped with a problem, I can come up with a creative solution that is not written anywhere. However, the reason I can do that is that I have read so many books on the subject; I can combine lessons from all of them into new solutions.

 Gives you something to talk about – Have you ever run out of stuff to talk about with your best friend, wife or husband? This can be uncomfortable. It might even make married couples wonder if their marriage is in trouble. However, if you read many books, you will always have something to discuss. You can discuss various plots in the novels you read, you can discuss the stuff you are learning in the business books you are reading as well. The possibilities of sharing are endless.

 Books are inexpensive entertainment – What is the average price of a movie ticket these days? $18 – $10? You can buy a paperback for that price and be entertained for many hours more. If you have a used bookstore nearby, you can get them even cheaper.

Tip: Once you make reading a habit, you will enjoy reading the books in your chosen career as well.

 You can learn at your own pace – Where formal education requires time commitments, books have no late-bells or hourly commitments. So you can learn at your own pace when you read books.

 New mental associations – I touched on this above. As you read more books the depth and breadth of your knowledge expands and your ability to form new organizations increases. In reading a book to discover the solution to one problem, you find the solution to others you may not have considered.

 Improves your reasoning skills – Books for professionals contain arguments for or against the actions within. A book on cooking argues that Chili powder goes well with beef and goes poorly with ice cream. A book on building a business argues that testing an idea for profitability before setting up is a smart strategy and argues against just barreling forward with the idea without testing.

You too will be able to reason better with the knowledge you gain. Some of the arguments will rub off on you. Others you will argue. Regardless, you will have better reasoning ability.

 Builds your expertise – Brian Tracy has said one way to become an expert in your chosen field is to read 100 books on the subject. He also said by continuing the same for 5 years you will become an international expert. With the Internet and blogs, you could hone that time down to 2-3 years if you follow through.

  Saves money – Apart from saving money on entertainment expenses. Reading books that help you develop your skills saves money. Reading books on how someone went bankrupt will be a warning to you against repeating their mistakes. Reading a book on how to build your own backyard deck saves the expense of hiring a contractor.

 Decreases mistakes – Although I would never suggest putting off an important goal because you fear making mistakes, it is still important to sharpen the saw. When you gather the deep and wide wisdom that books can provide, you are less apt to make mistakes.

 You will discover surprises - As you read more books as a source of information, you will learn stuff you were not looking for. I have read many great quotes on life and love by reading books on marketing. I have learned facts about biology from reading about chemistry. Heck, I have picked up some facts about history while reading about business and real estate. Since so many subjects intertwine, it is almost impossible not to learn something other than the book’s subject.

 Decreased boredom – One of the rules I have is if I am feeling bored, I will pick up a book and start reading. What I have found by sticking to this is that I become interested in the book’s subject and stop being bored. I mean, if you are bored anyway, you might as well be reading a good book.

 Can change your life – How many times have you heard of a book changing someone’s life? For me, it was Your Erroneous Zones by Wayne Dyer, which is the first self-development book I read. It opened my eyes to a completely new way of thinking that was not depressing and dull. It was the first step in my path of choosing my own life and being free of old habitual thought patterns.

 Can help break a slump – Being in a slump is uncomfortable. If you are a writer, you call it writer’s block. If you are a salesperson, it is called not making a sale in 23 days. However, a slump can be a crossroads. It might be you are wavering on your commitment to a particular project or (with marriage) person. On the other hand, a slump can be simply a lack of new ideas. Books are a great source of ideas, big and small. So if you find yourself in a slump, pick a book on the portion of your life you are slumping.

 Reduces stress - Many avid readers, including myself, unwind by reading. Compared with the person who gets home from work and immediately turns on the TV news, you are going from work stress to crime stress. However, it is not just news. TV as a source of relaxation is too full of loud commercials and fast moving and very often violent images. If relaxation is something, you want, turn off the TV or computer and pick up a book.

 Gets you away from digital distractions – If you, like many others, feel overwhelmed with the flashing lights, beeps and ring-a-dings that burn up our computing lives, then give books a chance. When you find some good books, you will find yourself drawn into the subject matter. You will want to spend more time reading. By spending more time reading books, you will have less time for the plethora of the digital gadgets begging for our attention.

You will make more money - If you make a serious effort to read in your chosen career, your expertise in that specialty will increase. As you become more specialized and learned you join a smaller group of more qualified people. By being part of the small, few with the highest-level knowledge your pay will increase. It is simple supply and demand.

 The bottom line is that there is a reading genre for every literate person on the planet, and whether your tastes lie in classical literature, poetry, fashion magazines, biographies, religious texts, young adult books, self-help guides, street lit, or romance novels, there’s something out there to capture your curiosity and imagination.

 Step away from your computer for a little while, crack open a book, and replenish your soul and your brain for a little while.

 Melvin Feller is known as “The Entrepreneur’s Mentor” because Melvin walks his talk. Melvin Feller has been there and done that and more importantly, Melvin Feller knows how to transfer the skill set for success.  This is main reason that he has been the sought after coach to hundreds of small business owners, entrepreneurs, Realtors, real estate investors and service professional internationally. Melvin Feller’s main talent is to show you how the step by step process to build and enjoy a successful 6-figure plus business while having a balanced life.  Melvin Feller maintains offices in Texas and Oklahoma.  

Melvin Feller MA is in Texas and in Oklahoma. Melvin Feller founded Melvin Feller Business Group in the 1970s to help individuals and organizations achieve their specific Victory. Victory as defined by the individual or organization are achieving strategic objectives, exceeding goals, getting results or desired outcomes. He has extensive experience assisting businesses achieve top and bottom line results. He has broad practical experience creating WINNERS in many organizations and industries. He has hands-on experience in executive leadership, operations, logistics, sales, program management, organizational development, training, and customer service. He has coached teams to achieve results in strategic planning, business development, organizational design, sales, and customer response and business process improvement. He has prepared and presented many workshops nationally and internationally.